Mechanical pencil



Dec. l2, 1939. H, s. HAssl-:LQUIs-r MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed April 20,i958 1 2 Sheets-SheetI 1 JBZ/@Ra III. lui,... lm. f. ..QN

/ il; offri! nl `lll Dec. 12, 1939. H, sfHAssELQvuls-r 2,182,846

MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed April 20, 1958 2 ISheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec.12, 1939 i sr MECHANICAL of Illinois Application April 20, 1938, SerialNo.` 203,005

iz claims. (o1. 12o-L18) This invention relates to an improvement` invmechanical pencils, and consists of the matters hereinafter describedand more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The improved pencil is of the advance-retract class, in which the leadsapproximate the length of the pencil, and in which magazines areprovided to contain eXtra leads. A pencil of the kind is shown inPatentNo. 1,956,207 granted July 10, 1934.-, to Herbert l-l. Lang.

In pencils of the kind heretofore, the magazines are closed by a capwhich is rotatable on the head of the barrel to bring an opening in saidcap into registry with one or the other of the magazines, whichotherwise are normally closed. But dificulty `has been found in pencilsof the kind because when rotating the cap the useris apt to up-end thebarrel to permit a lead to slide out of the barrel before he has rotatedthe cap, with the result that the end of the lead is apt to be brokenoff. v

One object of the present invention is to pro-v vide a mechanical pencilof the kind, with said objection eliminated, and which is of simple andeconomical construction and is capable of ready manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully asI proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

` Fig. l is an enlarged sectional side elevationv of the improvedpencil, with parts broken away` to more clearly disclose the interiorstructure.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section in the plane oi the longitudinal`axis of the pencil shown in Fig. l, but on a larger scale, showing thehead end of the pencil.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a stem to be referred to moreparticularly later.

Fig- 5 is a perspective View of the removable cap of the pencil.

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of onefeature of the invention.

Fig. 'i' is a view showing a transverse section through Fig. 6 in aplane indicated by the line 'i-' of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an element included in Fig. 6 to be moreparticularly referred to later.

Fig. 9 is another sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 2 showinga still further'modied form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view cfa ratchet stud included in the'construction shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. l2 is a perspective View of a ratchet wheel member included inFig'.` 9 which coacts with the stud shown in Fig. 11. y' `1 Fig. 13 isasectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of one featureof the' construction shown in Figs."2, 6 andi?. f

Fig. 14 is a view representing a cross sectionH through Fig. 13indicated by the line I'4-I4 in` Fig. 13. i

Fig. 15 isf'an enlarged viewrof the tip end ofl the pencil shownpartially'insection.l '7

i Referring now to the drawings and particularly to that form of theinvention illustrated in Figs. l to`5, inclusive7 ID indicates thebarrel of the improved pencil. This may be made of any suitable materialor composition now in' use for such pencils. 'Ihe barrel is a hollowtubel open f at both ends. y One end lof the barrel is tapered as shownat I0a where its bore is reduced in diameter as indicated at Ib toreceive'the stem Ia of a metal tip I2 tapered in continuation of thebarrel part Ia. The metal tip I2'has a central recess I2b for the leadin axial alignment with the central axis of the barrel.

Within the barrel is the familiar operating assembly I3 including alongitudinally slotted tube Iii:L and a spiral i4 running the length ofthe tube and containing the lead clutch and ejecting rod.- These partsare all of Well known construction and need no further description.Inside the bar'- rel just above the tapered part I0a it is provided wthan kannular shoulder I5 which' presents a seat for an aperturedcentering washer I6 through which the. assembly I3 extends into therecess lbrof the barrel.- The tube I3a of the assembly isvprovided withupset shoulders I.I for engagement with the top of said washer it *whenvthe assembly isin nal position in the barrel, being held in thatposition by means of a thread s i3 on the stem of the tip which isscrewed intov the threaded bottom end of the tube I 3a.

In the head end of the barrel, intermediate centering bearing supportfor the assembly I3 is yprovided by a sleeve I9 engaged snugly in theobvious that `when' the tip is unscrewed from the bottom of the assemblyI3 said assembly maybe ATENr orties withdrawn through the open head endof the barrel.

The head end of the barrel I5 is provided with an internal thread 2U(see Fig. 2). 2| indicates an apertured head which abuts the head end ofthe barrel and which has a reduced part 22 below said head provided witha thread 23 screwed into the thread 20 of the barrel. Within the head 2|is rotatively mounted the usual tubular holder 24 for the eraser. Saidholder has a narrow marginal bottom 25 seated upon a radial shoulder 26formed within the head 2|. A sleeve 2l rigid with and depending from thetubular holder 24 engages within the part 22 of the head 2| and isretained therein'by a split ring 28 which abuts the bottom end of saidpart 22 and is locked in a groove 29 in the sleeve 21. 3B indicates adrive cup with a drive t within the depending sleeve 21 of the tubularholder 24. Said drive cup has a bottom flange 3| with internal teeth 32.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that the head 2|, togetherwith the tubular holder 24 and the drive cup 30, may be removed as aunit from the barrel if) by unscrewing the head 2| from the barrel I0.

33 indicates a drive stud for the operating assembly I3. Said stud isxed in any convenient manner to the upper end of the spiral I I (seeFigs. 2 and 4), and has a radial ange 3ft which abuts against the upperend of the slotted tube |322- the construction being such that thespiral Il! may be rotated within the tube I3a by means of the stud 33.As shown, the stud 33 is square in cross section and has a reduced end33e. When the head and barrel are in assembled relation as shown in Fig.2, the stud 33 engages at its four corners with the teeth 32 of thedrive cup 30,-- the reduced end 33e extending above the level of saidteeth. It is obvious that by reason .of the engagement of the teeth ofthe drive cup 30 with the stud 33 attached to the spiral I3, said spiralmay be rotated to advance or retract a lead by rotating the tubularholder 24,-thus operating the lead from the head end of the pencilinstead of operating it by rotating the tip at the other end of thepencil.

The tubular holder 24 and the eraser 24a held therein are enclosed bythe familiar tubular cap 25. Said cap abuts at its bottom end againstthe top of the head 2| and is frictionally engaged in any convenientmanner with said tubular holder 24. Thus the spiral may be operated byrotating the cap 35.

When it is desired to remove a lead from one of the magazinecompartments, the head 2| is removed from the barrel by unscrewing ittherefrom. The entire assembly, including the head 2|, the tubularholder 24 and its enclosing cap 35, is thus disengaged and removed fromthe barrel to open the head end thereof. The barrel may then be11p-ended to permit a lead to drop out of one of the magazinecompartments. Thereupon the operation is reversed and the head 2| isscrewed into the barrel, thus restoring the drive cup to engagement withthe drive stud for again operating the pencil. The drive cup is providedwith eight teeth instead of four, to facilitate its re-engagement withthe drive stud. Obviously there is nothing in the parts referred to andtheir operation as described which tends to break or shear off the endsof the leads in their respective magazine compartments.

Another advantage of the improved pencil results from the fact that,after removal of the head 2 I, the entire assembly I3 may be withdrawnlongitudinally through the open head end of the barrel for repair orrenewal after the metal tip I2 has been unscrewed and withdrawn from thetip end of said assembly, and said assembly may be manufactured inquantities in advance, ready for insertion in previously made barrels ofany material, as and when required, with resulting economy of labor inthe final assembly of the pencils.

In the embodiment of the invention thus described, when a lead has beenexhausted and discharged, the user will rotate the cap 35 and with itthe tubular holder 24 in reverse to retract the lead clutch towards thehead end of the barrel for insertion of a new lead through the tip I2.The user, knowing that he must unscrew the head in order to remove itand get at the leads in the magazine compartments in the barrel, maycontinue the reverse rotation of the cap without gripping the head 2|and rotating it in reverse, notwithstanding obvious resistance after thelead clutch has reached its upper limit of movement. As a result, thereis damage or breaking of thc parts at the upper end of the assembly I3.The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, isdesigned to eliminate this trouble.

In this case the parts are all as in the first case described, includingthe threaded barrel I0, the threaded head 2|, the tubular holder 24 andthe drive stud 33. stead of being xed in the depending sleeve 2l' of theholder 24 as before, is split and is only fricticnally engaged withinsaid sleeve. The frictional engagement is provided by a lock washer 24aseated in the bottom of the tubular holder 24 and engaged with the topof the drive cup 30a.

Now when the tubular holderZd, by the cap 35, is rotated to retract thelead clutch, and said movement is continued with the intent ofunscrewing the head 2|, with the objectionable result heretoforedescribed in the rst case of bringing the clutch into engagement withthe top of the assembly I3, the tubular holder 24 will rotate idlywithout operating the drive clutch, which will slip due to itsfrictional engagement therewith. The user then noticing that the head isnot being unscrewed, pays more attention and unscrews the head 2| bydirectly grasping it.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 12, in-

clusive, a still further feature is added to the construction whichincludes ratchet elements to provide the driving engagement of the drivecup with the drive stud which will produce a perceptible metallic clickwhen the tubular holder 24 has been rotated sufficiently to bring thelead I 35h indicates the drive cup. Said cup depends t freely within thesleeve 27 from a base 36C xed within the tubular holder 2d on itsmarginal bottom 25. The cup is split towards its bottom end where it isprovided with internal ratchet teeth 30d. The drive stud 33J is likewiseprovided with ratchet teeth which are yieldingly engaged by the teeth ofthe cup 38h.

In this case when the tubular holder 24 is rotated in reverse to retractthe lead clutch, a further rotation tending to retract said lead clutchstill further will be ineffective, since the teeth of the cup willback-ratchet without rotatingV the stud 33b, and this back ratchetingwill produce a click which will notify the user that further rotation ofthe cup will be of no avail to remove The drive cup 30, however, in- 7;

, and arrangement of the cap and tubular holder for the eraser and theirconnection` with the barrel.

yIn this case, 35 indicates the barrel; 36 indicates the operatingassembly including the slotted sleeve 36a and the spiral 3l; and 38indicates the sleeve with the indents 38a for centering the assemblywithin the barrel as heretofore. sleeve in this case, however, is lockedagainst longitudinal movement in the barrel by means of an annular ribengaged in an annulargroove indicated at 39 formed respectively in thesleeve and in the barrel. The sleeve 38 extends beyond the head end ofthe barrel to engage and provide a stop for the marginal bottom of thetubular holder 4l! as indicated at 4l. 42 indicates a sleeve whichembraces the tubular holder 40, the projecting end of the sleeve S8, andprojects into the barrel for a short distance below its top end. Bothsleeves, namely, 38 and 132, are enlarged beyond the barrel to providean inclined shoulder 43. A ring Ml interposed between said shoulder i3and the end of the barrel is locked in position to provide a seat forthe bottom of the cap Alle which embraces the projecting end of thesleeve 42.

The sleeve 42 is rotative Yupon the projecting` end of the sleeve 38which vis non-rotatively fixed in the barrel` Said sleeve S2 hasfrictional engagement with the cap lila on the one hand, and With thetubular holder '50 on the other hand, so

i that said tubular holder may be rotated by rotating the cap to operatethe spiral, as in the other cases. y Y

4 5 indicates the drive cup which, as shown, is similar to themodification shown in Fig. 8, and l5a indicates the drive stud with theannular flange 46 which engages the top end of the slotted sleeve 36a.Below the ange 45 of the stud the sleeve 36a is cut longitudinally ashort distance and depressed inwardly to form a part i8 which presents alug interposed between the flange llt of the stud and the upper end ofthe spiralv 37 to lock the spiral against longitudinal movement ofl thesleeve 36a. thrust bearing for the spiral to prevent damage when thelead clutch is retracted too far.

In this case the spiral is operated as before, by rotating the ycap andwith it the sleeve 42 and the tubular holder 40. The cap may bewithdrawn to give access to the leads in the magazine lcompartments bypulling it longitudinally from its frictional engagement with the sleeve42. The

tubular holder "it with the drive cup may then be withdrawn separately,l l

I claim as my invention:

l. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a tubular barrel open atboth ends and provided at one end with atapered part, a longitudinallyslotted tube centrally disposed in said barrel and extending into thetapered part of saidI barrel, positive stop meanslimiting the movementof saidtube into said tapered part of the barrel, a

tip at the end of thebarrel having a stem threaded into the proximate.end of said slotted tube, a spiral, clutch and plungerenclosed in saidtube, an apertured head provided with a depending f Said Thisconstruction provides a top end of said spiral, and a drive cupoperatively engaged with said drive stud rotatable with said tubularholder and capable of disengagement from said stud when withdrawnlongitudinally v therefrom.

2. In amechanical pencil, in combination with a tubular barrel open atboth ends and provided at one end with a tapered part, a longitudinallyslotted tube centrally disposed in said barrel and extending into thetapered part` of said barrel, positive stop means limiting the movementof said tube into said tapered part of the barrel, a tip at the end ofthe barrel having a stem threaded into the proximate end of said'slottedtube, a spiral, clutch and plunger enclosed in said tube, an aperturedhead provided with a depending sleeve threaded into said barrel, atubular eraser holder rotatably seated in said aperture and having adepending sleeve looked against withdrawal from said head, a drive studhaving an end depending into said slotted tube and fixed to the top endof said spiral, and a drive cup operatively engaged with said driveslotted tube centrally disposed in said barrel and extending into thetapered part of said barrel, positive stop meansI limiting the movementof said tube into said tapered part of the barrel, a tip at the end ofthe barrel having a stem threaded into the proximate end of said slottedtube, a spiral, clutch and plunger enclosed in said tube, an aperturedhead provided with a depending sleeve threaded into said barrel, atubular eraser holder rotatably seated in said aperture and having adepending sleeve locked against Withdrawal from said head, a drive studhaving an end depending into said slottedtube and fixed to the top endof said spiral, and a drive cup operatively engaged with said drivestud, said cup being slotted and being frictionally engaged with thedepending sleeve of said tubular eraser holder, said cup being capableof ydisengagement from said stud when withdrawn longitudinallytherefrom.

4. In a mechanical pencil', in kcombination with a tubular barrel openat both ends and provided at one end with a tapered part, alongitudinally slotted tube centrally disposed in saidbarrel andextending into the tapered part of said barrel, positive stop meanslimiting the movement of said tube into said tapered part of the barrel,a tip at the end of the barrel having a stem threaded into the proximateend of said slotted tube, a spiral, clutch and plunger enclosed in saidtube, an apertured head provided with a depending sleeve threaded intosaid barrel, a tubular eraser holder rotatably seated in said apertureand having a depending sleeve locked against withdrawal from said head,a drive stud having an end depending into said slotted tube and xed tothe top of said spiral, said stud being provided with ratchet teeth, adrivev cup rotatable with said tubular holder and capable ofdisengagement from said stud when withdrawn longitudinally therefrom,said drive cup being provided with yielding back ratchetmecl1anismadapted for engagement with the ratchet teeth on said stud.

5. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a tubular barrel open atboth ends and provided at one end with a tapered part, a longitudinallyUUE slotted tube centrally disposed in said barrel and xtending into thetapered part of said barrel, positive stop means limiting the movementof said tube into said tapered part of the barrel, a tip at the end ofthe barrel having a stem threaded into the proximate end of said slottedtube, a spiral, clutch and plunger enclosed in said tube, an aperturedhead provided with a depending sleeve threaded into said barrel, atubular eraser holder rotatably seated in said aperture and havingdepending sleeve locked against Withdrawal from said head, a drive studhaving an end depending into said slotted tube and Xed to the top ofsaid spiral, said stud being provided with ratchet teeth, a drive cuprotatable with said tubular holder and capable of disengagement fromsaid stud when withdrawn longitudinally therefrom, said drive cup beingprovided with back ratchet teeth adapted for engagement with the ratchetteeth on said stud and being split to provide yielding engagement of itsteeth with the teeth or said stud.

6. ln a mechanical pencil, in combination With A a tubular barrel openat both ends, lead operating means including a longitudinally slottedtube and a spiral, one rotative with respect to the other, centrallydisposed in said barrel, means providing a thrust shoulder near one endof said barrel, and a tip abutting that end of the barrel and having astem threaded into the proximate end of said slotted tube to draw itagainst said thrust shoulder and hold said operating means againstlongitudinal withdrawal through the other end of said barrel.

7. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a tubular barrel open atboth ends, lead operating means including a longitudinally slotted tubeand a spiral, one rotative with respect to the other, centrallydis-posed in said barrel, means providing a thrust shoulder near one endof said barrel, a tip abutting that end of the barrel and having a stemthreaded into the proximate end of said slotted tube to draw it againstsaid thrust shoulder, a removable tubular member connected to the otherend of said barrel, a drive stud having an end depending into saidslotted tube and fixed to the top of said spiral, and a drive cupoperatively engaged with said drive stud rotatable with said tubularremovable member and capable of disengagement from said stud whenWithdrawn longitudinally therefrom.

8. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a tubular borrel open atboth ends, a tip at one end of said barrel, a lead operating assemblycentrally located sai l barrel, means :for securing said assembly barrelpermitting a longitudinal Withdrawal of said assembly through the headend of seid barrel, a removable tubular meml'ler connected to C id headend of said barrel, dri' e stud for oper said lead assembly, and a drivecup operatively engaged with said drive stud rotatable with said tubularremovable member and capable of disengagement from said stud whenwithdrawn longitudinally.

9. 1n a mechanical pencil, in combination with a tubular barrel open atboth ends, a tip at one end of said barrel, a lead operating assemblycentrally located in said barrel, means for securing said assemblywithin said barrel permitting a longitudinal withdrawal of said assemblythrough the head end of said barrel, an apertured head provided with adepending sleeve threaded into said barrel, a tubular member rotatablyseated in said aperture and locked against Withdrawal therefrom, a drivestud for operating said assembly, said stud being provided with ratchetteeth, a drive cup rotatable with said tubular member and capable ofdisengagement from said stud when Withdrawn longitudinally therefrom,said drive cup being provided with back ratchet mechanism adapted forengagement With the ratchet teeth on said stud.

10. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a tubular barrel open atboth ends, a tip at one end or" said barrel having a threaded stemextending into the barrel, a lead operating assembly centrally locatedin said barrel, means including said tip for securing said assembly tosaid threaded stem permitting a longitudinal Withdrawal of said assemblywhen said tip is unscrewed therefrom, an apertured head provided with adepending sleeve threaded into said barrel, a tubular member rotatablyseated in said aperture and locked against Withdrawal therefrom, a drivestud for operating said assembly, said stud being provided with ratchetteeth, a drive cup rotatable with said tubular member and capable ofdisengagement from said stud when Withdrawn longitudinally therefrom,said drive cup being provided with back ratchet mechanism adapted forengagement with the ratchet teeth on said stud.

ll. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a tubular barrel open atboth ends, a tip at one end of said barrel having a threaded stemextending into the barrel, a lead operating assembly centrally locatedin said barrel, means including said tip for securing said assembly tosaid threaded stem permitting a longitudinal withdrawal of said assemblywhen said tip is unscrevved therefrom, an apertured head provided with adepending sleeve threaded into said barrel, a tubular member rotatablyseated in said aperture and locked against Withdrawal therefrom, a drivestud for operating said assembly, said stud being provided with ratchetteeth, a drive cup rotatable With said tubular member and capable ofdisengagement from said stud when withdrawn longitudinally therefrom,said drive cup being provided With back ratchet teethadapted forengagement with the ratchet teeth on said stud and being split toprovide yielding engagement of its teeth with the teeth of said stud.

l2. In a mechanical pencil, in combination with a tubular barrel, a leadoperating assembly 1'e movably secured in said barrel at the tip endthereof, said assembly being capable of withdrawal 4through the head endof said barrel and including a longitudinally slotted tube and a spiralwithin said tube, an operating stud depending into said tube and securedto said spiral, said stud being provided with a radial flange abuttingthe topend of said slotted tube and said slotted tube having a partbelow said ilange indented toward said stud tor present a thrust bearingbetween said flange and the end of said spiral.

HUGO S. HASSELQUIST.

